News From the Archdiocese of Birmingham

The role of faith communities in society today is a good thing

Nostra Aetate - 60th Anniversary

This Sunday, at St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, there will be a national gathering to mark the 60th anniversary of an important teaching document of the Church, called Nostra Aetate.

Nostra Aetate is one of the shortest Vatican documents you will ever read!

Together with other significant teachings of the Second Vatican Council (often referred to as Vatican II), this short document is 60 years old this year.

In the approach to this Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis asked that Catholics look again at the teachings of Vatican II as a reminder of some key reference points in the a church’s understanding of its life and mission.

Vatican documents are given a Latin title which is simply the first words of the document.

Nostra Aetate - meaning In Our Time - is a prophetic teaching on the Catholic Church’s understanding of other religions.

Given how short the document is, I remember spending quite a lot of time on it in seminary and truthfully was not sure why, at the time.

But the penny dropped when - years later - I was at a gathering with a number of Jewish leaders and they spoke of this document in the most glowing terms, a reference point for Jewish people in their relationship with the Catholic Church’s understanding that, perhaps, it has not been for Catholics.

Written in the language of the 1960s, Nostra Aetate says:

The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.

While speaking of various religions, it encourages Catholics to dialogue with Muslims and to overcome suspicion, and warns against antisemitism.

If this is helpful to illustrate how prophetic this document was in the 1960s and how was it to us today especially at a time when we live in communities populated by people of different faiths who are much more likely to be our neighbours than faceless members of other religions, at the time this document was written, it was still not acceptable for Catholics to pray with other Christians, including attending services in other Christian churches.

Most of all, as people of faith, living alongside people of all faith, may we never fall into the trap of believing that faith is bad. The role of faith communities in society today is a good thing and we can be part of expressing that through a catholic Christian faith and by recognising God‘s plan live through all he has created.

If faith is central to our lives, then we are called to respect the faith that is central to the lives of all people of faith.

Here is a series of short videos made to mark the 60th anniversary of Vatican II. They focus on the four key documents of the Second Vatican Council and were made in response to Pope Francis‘s invitation to revisit these documents during the Jubilee year.

Dei Verbum - Vatican II Document on Divine Revelation

Lumen Gentium - Vatican II Document on the Church

Sacrosanctum Concilium - Vatican II Document on the Sacred Liturgy

Gaudium et Spes - Vatican II Document on the Church in the Modern World

Bishop Timothy Menezes

This Sunday: Celebrating 60 Years of Nostra Aetate

Dying To Live - an interfaith conversation

The capacity of faith communities in the Birmingham area to discuss end of life concerns.

1.30pm on Sunday 26 October, in the Grimshaw Room, St Chad's Cathedral.

This is one event of several in the lead up to the Nostra Aetate anniversary celebration, with health care workers and medical practitioners particularly in mind.

The national celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate will take place at St Chad's Cathedral at 4pm with sung Vespers.

Reflection

Newman and Gazing on God

The “breath and pulse of the spiritual life” were, for St John Henry Newman, prayer and reflection (Blehl, The White Stone, p137). Influenced, in part, by the thought of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, Newman taught that every Christian is called to discover God’s will in the ordinary events of each day. Newman emphasised that the significance of our daily experiences gradually unfolds over time, and always lead us to meet the gaze of a loving God, who longs for this encounter.

Newman, explores the theme of personal revelation in a moving homily entitled: A Particular Providence Revealed in the Gospel, where he reminds us, with great tenderness, that:

“God beholds thee individually, whoever thou art….He hears thy voice, the beating of thy heart and thy very breathing. Thou wast one of those whom Christ offered up His last prayer and sealed it with His precious blood.” (Parochial and Plain Sermons III, 9)

Whatever set of given circumstances we find ourselves in, Newman believed they are, in some way, important for our own salvation and that of those around us. This is because God is to be found at the centre of all that happens to us, as St Ignatius stressed in his famous Examen of Conscience, which Newman had found helpful. As a result, he writes, with free flowing, total trust and conviction:

“God knows what my greatest happiness is, but I do not. There is no rule about what is happy and good; what suits one would not suit another. And the way by which perfection is reached vary very much; the medicines necessary for our souls are very different from each other…O my God, I will put myself without reserve into thy hands. Wealth or woe, joy or sorrow, friends or bereavement, honour, or humiliation, good report or bad report, comfort, or discomfort. Thy presence or the hiding of thy countenance, all is good if it comes from Thee. Thou art Wisdom and Thou art love – what can I desire more”?

No wonder the phrase of St Frances de Sale - ‘Heart Speaks to Heart’, which Newman adopted as his motto as a Cardinal, meant so much to him. It was, so clearly, autobiographical.

Newman recognised that we need to mentally, ‘walk around’ the ‘scenery’ of our lives, and believe that behind it, waiting to be discovered, is the risen Lord who transforms the ecology of the natural and human world as one common home. Jose Morales sums up John Henry’s saintly method as follows:

“Newman lived with his mind in heaven but his feet on the ground.” (Jose Morales, Ideal of Holiness, p146).

Fr Peter Conley

St John Henry Newman

Parishes, schools and communities are invited to celebrate St John Henry Newman.

The much-loved educationalist will be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on Saturday 1 November, during the Jubilee of the World of Education.

Visit our website to find out more.

This Saturday: Love in Action

Join Emily Pugh, Father Hudson's Caritas and Sylvester Mutsigwa and Kathryn Keenan, CAFOD in Birmingham, to learn more about the faith basis of our work and to spend time in reflection on how our faith calls us to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters locally and globally.

Saturday 25 October, 10am-1.30pm, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, London Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

We will begin with Mass in the Church at 10am then move to the parish centre next door to begin our meeting at approximately 10.30.

This Saturday: Autumn Party at Alton Castle

Invitation from the Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT)

Tickets are now on sale for an Autumn Party Night at Alton Castle on Saturday 25 October, from 7pm until late!

By popular demand, this much-loved event returns to the beautiful setting of the Castle, where we’ll gather for our annual celebration of the work of Kenelm and raise some vital funds in the process!

Food, music, games, challenges, dancing and much more!

This annual celebration brings together Friends of Kenelm and supporters from across the country, giving us a chance to reflect on youth ministry, recognise the dedication of individuals through our special awards, and look ahead with joy and hope.

Urgent Appeal issued for Bellcote and roof repairs

St George and St Martin in Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent, is seeking donations.

The church bellcote is in serious need of repair. Together with roof repairs around £60,000 needs to be raised.

Please consider making a donation if you are able to. Thank you.

Annual Collection for The Johnson Association

Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November

The Annual Collection for The Johnson Association takes place in all churches and parishes of the Archdiocese on the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November.

The Johnson Association provides financial help and support to the retired, sick and infirm clergy of the Archdiocese.

Our priests rely on this support after devoting their lives to furthering the mission of the church and bringing people closer to Christ. Please give what you can. Thank you.

Survey: Neurodiversity and the Catholic Faith

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith experience.

We want to hear from you.

In this Participatory Research we want to:
a) Understand what helps neurodivergent Catholics in England and Wales.
b) What gets in the way for neurodivergent Catholics in England and Wales.

Your insights can help us to become more inclusive and responsive.

Survivor Survey: Invitation to contribute

The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) is undertaking a thematic inspection of survivor engagement and support, and the Archdiocese of Birmingham has been chosen as one of the Dioceses to be involved in this project.

Survivors are invited to contribute their experiences by completing a public survey.

Families invited to pray the Rosary this October

Pray the Rosary with Archbishop John Wilson and The Mark 10 Mission this October.

The Rosary Challenge invites you to pray a decade of the Rosary each weekday. The Mark 10 Mission has created beautiful online videos for each mystery of the Holy Rosary, led by Archbishop John of the Archdiocese of Southwark.

Invitation from the Coventry Circle of the Newman Association

Named after St John Henry Newman because of his desire to have an "educated laity", we have monthly talks by experts in their field, mostly on themes of Catholic faith, history and related culture but also on other faiths. A recent theme was Greek Orthodox icons.

Talks followed by discussion and refreshments are at 7.30pm in the Margaret Roper Room at St Thomas More church in Coventry. Most are on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

We aim for all talks to be accessible live on Zoom. We have social events too. Everybody welcome!

October 28: Reflections on the Newman Pilgrimage to Turkey: Early Councils of the Church - Colin & Barbara Roberts.

Invitation to a Day of Renewal, Erdington Abbey

The Birmingham Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference will host a day of renewal at Erdington Abbey, Birmingham, on Saturday 8 November, 9.30am - 4pm.

The theme of the day is "The Eucharist is my highway to heaven... St Carlo Acutis".

The day will begin with Mass at 9.30am and followed by praise, worship, talks and prayer ministry.

The guest speaker is Catholic evangelist John Hesketh.

All welcome.

#RedWednesday – Stand in Solidarity

Join Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) this November to support persecuted Christians:

Harvington Hall – Martyrs Past & Present
Saturday 15 November 11am–5pm
An opportunity to show solidarity with our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters.

Join ACN and Bishop Timothy Menezes for a day of talks, workshops and reflections.

Schools Mass – St Chad’s Cathedral
Wednesday 19 November 12:15pm
Celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley.

An opportunity for schools to show the world they care for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters. Last year around 300 primary and secondary students worshipped together.

Jobs and Volunteering

Opportunities with the Archdiocese and other organisations

Prison Chaplain vacancy in Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

Job holders will provide faith/belief and pastoral care to prisoners and staff of their own faith/belief tradition and have an understanding/knowledge of other faith/beliefs as part of a multi-faith/belief chaplaincy team.

Volunteer Taster Sessions at Tabor Living, Birmingham at a time to suit you.

Are you interested in making a real difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness?

Join us for a Volunteer Taster Session at Tabor Living, where you'll get a chance to learn more about our work, meet the team and explore how you can get involved.

Father Hudson’s Caritas provides social care throughout the Archdiocese.

A number of roles are currently available including:

Family Support Worker
Fundraising, Communications and Marketing Administrator
Inclusion Health and Early Action Advice Worker
Foster Carers

Lead Officer vacancy at WorkCare West Midlands

The Lead Officer will play a pivotal role in leading and developing the work of WWM, enhancing its capacity, sustainability and reputation.

Please follow us online

This email was sent to davidlogue1@aol.comYou received this email because you are registered with Archdiocese of Birmingham
Registered charity number 234216

View our Privacy Policy: https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/privacy-policy

Unsubscribe here